A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

If you’re looking for an SUV, but don’t need much space or off-road capabilities, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport just might be the ticket. With it’s stand-out appearance that is sure to be noticed, it provides the features and fuel economy that most expect from other vehicles on the market wrapped up in a sport utility exterior.

Key Features

The Outlander Sport’s fuel economy is a major bonus, even though the continuously variable automatic transmission might take some time to get used to. The base ES model offers a five-speed manual transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that are fun and easy to use. This model is also packed with amenities, including telescoping/tilt steering, cruise control, 16-inch wheels and LED taillights to name a few. The SE option adds a bit more with 18-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, six speakers and auto climate control. For those that want more, available upgrades include a rear view camera, 40 GB hard drive, Rockford-Fosgate system, navigation system, remote start and a panoramic roof.

Changes for 2012

The most notable changes for 2012 are the smaller size coupled with improved fuel economy, which is in keeping with many of the other newly available SUVs.

What We Like

With one of the highest fuel economies in its class, as well as impeccable style, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a welcome addition the smaller size SUV family. It also offers maneuverability that is light and nimble for a compact SUV.

What Concerns Us

If you’re looking for acceleration and power that can handle towing, you might want to consider a different option. The four-cylinder engine is the only option available, which means you won’t be off-roading all that much either.

Available Models

The 2012 Outlander Sport is available in ES and SE models. Both models use the same 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine, which provides 148 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm. Both options are available in either manual or automatic. The manual and automatic ES models offer 24/31 and 25/31 mpg city/highway fuel economy respectively. For the automatic SE you’ll see 25/31 mpg city/highway, with the manual offering 23/28 mpg fuel economy.

Major Recalls

There is only one major recall for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which is for improperly manufactured turn signal levers that could result in an inoperative auto-cancel function when using the turn signals.

Common Issues

The most commonly reported issue with this car is that the passenger airbags either don’t deploy, partially come out with no cause and that the airbag light illuminates for no reason.

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